Sodium borohydride (NaBH4) is a potential candidate for hydrogen storage and transport, but it has some limitations compared to compressed or liquefied hydrogen:
Pros:
High hydrogen content: NaBH4 boasts a theoretical hydrogen content of around 10.8 wt% (weight percent), which is higher than compressed hydrogen (around 5%).
Solid state: Transportation in solid form can be simpler and potentially safer than compressed gas or liquified hydrogen.
Room temperature reaction: Hydrogen can be generated from NaBH4 through a reaction with water at room temperature, eliminating the need for high-energy cooling processes.
Cons:
Costly production: Current production methods for NaBH4 are expensive and energy-intensive.
Byproduct challenges: The hydrolysis reaction of NaBH4 produces sodium metaborate (NaBO2) as a byproduct. Recycling NaBO2 back to NaBH4 is currently not very efficient, adding to the cost.
Release control: The reaction with water can be rapid, making it challenging to control the release of hydrogen precisely.
Overall:
While NaBH4 shows promise for hydrogen storage, it's still in the development stage. Research is ongoing to address the production cost, recycling efficiency, and controlled hydrogen release. Compressed and liquefied hydrogen are the dominant methods for hydrogen transport currently.
References:
https://reneweconomy.com.au/could-a-...rogen-exports/
research.csiro.au
https://research.csiro.au/hyresearch...rogen-economy/
pubs.rsc.org
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/arti.../na/c9na00037b
arena.gov.au
https://arena.gov.au/projects/hydrog...owder-project/